Rep. Anne Donahue

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for Vermont's Child Care Financial Assistance Program by adjusting income thresholds and co-payment rules to help more families access subsidized child care. Under the new provisions, families earning up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level would qualify for subsidies, while those earning 150 percent or less would pay no co-payment regardless of family size. The bill also changes how child care providers are paid by decoupling reimbursement rates from the Step Ahead Recognition System (STARS) and instead tying them to market rates from the Vermont Child Care Market Rate Survey with tiered caps based on provider ratings. These changes would take effect on July 1, 2023, and directly impact families seeking employment or training and the child care providers serving them.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Vermont Agency of Human Services to update specific administrative rules to use respectful language and reflect current practices. It requires the agency to submit a plan by January 1, 2024, to amend rules governing intermediate care facilities, guardianship for mentally retarded persons, Medicaid regulations, long-term care services, and vocational rehabilitation. The agency must prioritize updating the rules related to intermediate care facilities and guardianship. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2023, and applies to the agency's rulemaking processes rather than directly changing how services are delivered to individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to make Vermont observe U.S. Eastern Standard Time year-round instead of switching to daylight saving time twice annually. It would amend state law to establish Eastern Standard Time as the permanent time zone for the state, with the transition to occur on January 1 of the year following when neighboring states like Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York adopt the same change. The legislation includes findings that standard time better supports health, safety, and productivity, and gives the governor authority to adjust time periods if needed to align with adjacent states. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2023, pending coordination with neighboring states to implement the change simultaneously.

Maddy summaryThis bill would exempt all U.S. military retirement income and military survivor benefit income from Vermont state income tax. It directly affects active and retired military personnel, as well as the surviving spouses and dependents of deceased service members who receive these benefits. The legislation amends existing tax code sections to remove military retirement and survivor benefits from taxable income, while also clarifying that taxpayers can only choose one income exclusion option if they qualify for multiple types of exemptions. The bill states its purpose is to honor and thank military retirees and their families for their service, and it applies retroactively to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new permanent position of Dementia Coordinator within Vermont's Agency of Human Services to help coordinate state efforts and community partnerships in supporting people with dementia and their families. The Coordinator would update the state's Alzheimer's action plan, manage grant funding for expanded services, streamline government programs to reduce duplication, oversee dementia-specific training, and collect and share data to improve care quality. The role requires a master's or bachelor's degree in human services, public health, or public administration with professional experience, and the Commission on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders would recommend qualified candidates. An initial $150,000 appropriation funds the position in fiscal year 2024, with the Coordinator required to submit an annual report on dementia care status and legislative recommendations by December 1. The act takes effect on July 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Health Care Freedom of Conscience Act, would protect the rights of health care providers and institutions in Vermont to decline participation in medical services that conflict with their religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. It directly affects physicians, nurses, pharmacists, clinics, hospitals, and other health care entities by establishing their right to refuse services such as abortion, contraception, assisted reproduction, and physician-assisted suicide without facing penalties. The legislation prohibits discrimination against providers or institutions who exercise this right, banning actions like termination, demotion, loss of benefits, or denial of licenses or grants as retaliation for conscientious objections. To qualify for protection, health care institutions must provide patients with a consent form stating their right to decline certain services, while individual providers receive immunity from civil, criminal, and administrative liability for refusing to participate in objectionable care.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Secretary of Administration to ban social media applications from State-owned devices and networks by September 15, 2023. It also mandates the creation of a regularly updated list of countries and entities that pose cybersecurity risks to the State, with updates required at least every six months. The law directly affects state employees and IT systems by restricting access to specific social media platforms and vendors from nations deemed to present unacceptable security threats. State officials must publish this list on the agency website to inform the public about which platforms and entities are prohibited.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that honors organizations and individuals working to improve rural broadband access in Vermont. It recognizes the Communications Union Districts (CUDs) and related groups like the Vermont Communications Union Districts Association and the Vermont Community Broadband Board for their efforts in building broadband networks. The resolution acknowledges past legislative actions that created funding and oversight structures to support these broadband initiatives. It does not change any laws or policies but serves to formally recognize the achievements of these groups in expanding internet access to over 200 municipalities.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates January 23-27, 2023, as the first annual Holocaust Education Week in Vermont. It directly affects Vermont schools and educational institutions by establishing a formal period for Holocaust education activities. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the document to the Vermont Holocaust Memorial and the Agency of Education to facilitate the event. This commemorative measure recognizes the historical significance of the Holocaust and aims to increase awareness through organized educational programming during the designated week.

Maddy summaryThis bill would adjust income eligibility limits for Vermont's Medicare Savings Programs, which help low-income individuals pay Medicare premiums and deductibles. It raises the income threshold for the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program to 150% of the federal poverty level and increases the limit for the Qualifying Individual program to 185% of the federal poverty level. The bill also eliminates the Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary program entirely. These changes would require approval from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services before taking effect.